Page 61 of Protect Me

The inked shifter shrugs. “Says you. Sway says otherwise.”

“It can be minuscule,” I reply quickly, hoping to save Bracken at least a bit of embarrassment. "Likely because he associates you all with sex since you enjoy sharing women.”

Duncan shakes his head. “If you were this fucking powerful, you should have told us. Keeping shit like that to yourself makes you untrustworthy—which makes you dangerous.”

“Dangerous.” I nearly laugh at the word. “That’s an understatement. I broke Robert. It’s the only reason I stayed as long as I did because I felt—” I close my eyes as tears roll down my face. “Ifeelguilty.”

“Robert is a pissant,” Killian snaps. “And you wouldn’t have been able to make him an asshole unless a part of him was, right?”

“I made it so much worse.”

Bracken shakes his head. “Did you ever think that he might have targeted you because of what you are?”

“No one knew,” I tell him. “My parents—”

“How did they die?” Duncan questions. “Tell us how your parents died, Sway.”

“An accident. They were—” And then it hits me. “They lost control of their car and drove into a tree. It never made sense at the time. My dad was a great driver. He drove for dignitaries and politicians.”

His eyes narrow at my words. “Did you ever suspect foul play?”

“No, I—” Horror twists like a blade in my heart, and I cover my mouth. “No. I didn’t even know Robert then.”

Duncan moves in closer. “Maybe not, but I’d be willing to bet he fucking knew you. If he had anything to do with your parents’ deaths, then you’ve been a target since day one.”

The image of my parents’ bodies—broken and bloodied—fills my mind for mere seconds before they twist, morphing into the bodies of the three men before me. “I need to leave. I have to go now so he can’t—”

“If you think for a second we’re letting you leave, you’ve lost your fucking mind.” Bracken turns to Duncan. “We need to let D know.”

“What? No. You can’t—”

“He won’t use you,” Bracken snaps. “But he does need to be aware that there is an even larger threat. He can warn Earth and Emerald that they have a snake in their midst.”

Duncan nods. “Agreed. Sharing that kind of information will help our cause.”

“This can’t be happening.” I groan and cover my face with both hands. Tonight had such promise. I’d felt more alive than I have in years—yet I’d been in danger the entire fucking time. How did I not see the hunters? How did I think I could be lucky enough that they wouldn’t find me tucked away in this circus?

“Let’s go.” Bracken takes my hand, and despite the danger I’ve found myself in, my body heats even with his simple touch.

These men—these lions—have gotten under my skin.

“Where are we going?”

“Your apartment.”

“But Duncan said—”

“Fuck what he said. You need sleep.”

Chapter16

Sway

By the time we reach my apartment, sleep is the last thing on my mind. Imagining Robert having a hand in my parents' deaths and then picturing his hired hunters in the crowd tonight is wreaking havoc on my mind, sending my heart racing in a potentially uncontrollable panic.

Ibarelyescaped him the last time. In fact, I only got away because he’d been so busy with political matters that took him away from the room we were staying in. If it hadn’t been an emergency... I don’t want to think about where I’d be now. He so rarely left me alone that running from the embassy had been my only real chance.

How the hell am I supposed to do it again? How can I outsmart professional bounty hunters who have spent their lives training to track down those who do not wish to be found?